With Collegiate AC’s extensive expansion plans set for Europe in 2017, the leading provider of luxury student accommodation in the UK has announced the appointment of Rob Clothier as Development Director.

Set to manage a newly launched division, Acquisitions & Development Management, we spoke with Rob to discuss his role and the future for Collegiate AC;

What does your new role entail?

“As part of our continued strategic expansion, Collegiate AC have launched a brand new division; Collegiate Acquisitions & Development Management. Our core objectives will be on supporting our clients through the following stages of new projects to ensure they achieve the Collegiate AC standards for consumer quality, branding and investment sustainability;

Evaluation, appraisal and acquisition

Layout, room mix, detailed design and specification

Tendering support, branding and construction phases

The team will focus on delivering class-leading stock for our clients and our students, as we enter into longer and stronger partnerships.”

What is it about this new role that excites you?

“Collegiate AC have an outstanding reputation for the delivery and operation of superior student accommodation, whilst delivering the best value for their clients and their students. Working with one of the markets leading providers, establishing an acquisition and development management team – providing more support to a strategic number of clients and investors – and being part of a successful team to grow this incredibly strong brand, both here in the UK and overseas – is very exciting indeed.”

How does your experience from previous positions prepare you for this role?

“I have over 16 years’ experience in the Property / Construction industry. Starting as QS with a main contractor, responsible for ensuring a high-quality build, within budget and to programme – provided me with essential delivery experience.

Within the last 8 years, I have worked for the property development arm of Bouygues UK and specifically their student accommodation brand Uliving, developing over 5,000 purpose built student accommodation beds across the country. This role gave me vital experience in structuring development transactions from the very outset, working with universities and landowners to meet their objectives in full.

The combination of roles allowed me to secure a skill set which completes the development cycle, from acquisition through to delivery.”

What do you see as being the greatest challenges?

“The student accommodation sector is a highly competitive one. Ensuring that we listen to the needs of our students, clients and investors in this time of expansion, whilst continuing to focus on the Collegiate AC brand principals and core values, will be critical in maintaining success and achieving our business plan going forward.”

What can the industry expect from Collegiate in 2017?

“From a project perspective – a continued focus on the UK market, ensuring that all projects due for completion in time for the start of the 2017 / 2018 academic year, are handed over to the operational team successfully. In addition to this, we are very excited to have launched the first of our European schemes, Collegiate Marquês Pombal, a flagship project in Lisbon, also due for completion later this year.

The Acquisition and Development team will be strengthening our activity in the UK and Europe, continuing to work with key clients and investors. Excitingly other transactions across the continent are due for financial close throughout the calendar year.”